866 The New York State College of Forestry 



above the stamens on the recept-acle and imbricated in a spindle-shaped 

 column, vdVn. winged style and small stigma. Fruit a nairow, erect, pale 

 brown cone consisting of the many flattened samara-like, indehiscent, 4-ribbed 

 carpels wluch fall away from the axis at maturity; seeds 1-2, suspended, 

 albuminous. 



CUSTARD-APPLE FAMILY. ANONACEAE 



A large tropical family ^Yidely distributed throughout the 

 tropical and subtropical regions of both the New and Old World, 

 consisting of over five hundred species grouped in fifty-one genera. 

 But two genera are represented in North America, one in the 

 eastern United States, the other confined to southern Florida and 

 the West Indies. 



Sai) watery. Brancldeis terete, A\dth conspicuous leaf-scars. Leaves alter- 

 nate, entire, pinniveined, estipulate, petioled. Flowers perfect, solitary, 

 axillarj' or opposite the leaves; sepals 3, valvate in the bud; petals 6, in two 

 series; stamens numerous on the elevated romided receptacle, -with short dis- 

 tinct filaments and 2-celled anthers which are prolonged above into a broad, 

 fleshy, truncate connective; pistils few, inserted on the summit of the recep- 

 tacle; ovary 1-eelled, 1-many ovuled. Fruit baccate or compound, generally 

 fleshy, formed of the ripened jriericarp of one or several pistils ; seeds inclosed 

 in an aril, large, smooth, brown and lustrous, A\-ith ruminate albumen. 



THE PAPAWS. Genus ASIMINA Adans. 

 A genus of six or seven species including small trees or shrubs 

 confined to eastern North America. But one species, Asimina 

 triloba Dunal. becomes arborescent and occurs as far north as 

 New York State. The remaining forms are low shrubs of the 

 South Atlantic and Gulf states. 



Tmgs ill-scented when bruised. Buds minute, cinero-pubescent. Leaves 

 membranaceous, entire, petioled, deciduous. Flowers mostly from the axils 

 of the leaves of the pre\ious season, nodding, pedunculate, puri^lish, ill- 

 smelling; sepals green, ovate, concave, smaller than the petals, early decidu- 

 ous; petals 6, ovate or obovate-oblong, reticulately veined, accrescent, the 3 

 exterior alternate with the sepals and spreading, the inner series erect and 

 much smaller ; stamens numerous, linear-cuneate, densely packed on the recep- 

 tacle; anther cells separate on the fleshy connective; pistils few on the summit 

 of the receptacle, projecting above the stamens; ovary 1-celled; style oblong, 

 slightly curved, stigmatic on the margin ; ovules 4—20, horizontal, 2-ranked 

 on the ventral suture. Fruit an oval or oblong, smooth berry; seeds ovate, 

 compressed, marked at the base Avith a large hilum. 



LAUREL FAMILY. LAURACEAE 

 A large chiefly tropical family consisting of aromatic trees and 

 shrubs grouped in about forty genera and nine hinidred species, 



